Silver brace for CAF CL giants, Wanderers prepare for Confederation Cup challenge

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the details for the 2025/26 Preliminary Rounds of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, setting the stage for Malawi’s representatives, Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers, to learn their opponents.

The draw, set for August 9 in Tanzania, will kick off a continental journey for both clubs, with Silver Strikers facing the daunting task of navigating the CAF Champions League’s early stages and Mighty Wanderers aiming for success in the Confederation Cup.

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CAF has announced that 62 clubs will participate in the Champions League, with only two of Africa’s top-ranked teams, Al Ahly of Egypt and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, receiving a bye from the first preliminary round. This means Silver Strikers, representing Malawi in the Champions League, will be thrown directly into the deep end, potentially facing continental powerhouses.

The development confirms that teams like Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis, who were quarterfinalists last year, and Orlando Pirates, a previous winner, will all be involved in the first preliminary round draw.

For the TNM Super League champions, this presents a significant challenge from the outset. Silver Strikers’ board chairperson, George Kaudza Masina, has expressed the club’s readiness, stating, “We are not looking at just participating, we want to compete. We believe we are ready technically, in terms of having the necessary players and technical staff.”

However, the club faces a potential hurdle on its technical bench, as there have been reports that their head coach, Peter Mgangira, may not possess the required CAF A coaching license. This could force the club to make a last-minute change to its coaching staff, a detail that is critical as they prepare to face formidable opposition.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, a total of 58 teams have been confirmed, with six teams—Zamalek, Wydad AC, USM Alger, CR Belouizdad, Al Masry, and Stellenbosch FC—exempted from the first preliminary round.

Mighty Wanderers, who will be competing in the tournament, will be one of the 52 clubs involved in the first qualifying stage. Wanderers’ CEO, Panganeni Ndovi, has also voiced confidence, saying the team’s domestic performance gives them the belief that they are ready to compete. The Nomads are also looking to improve on their last CAF appearance in 2018.

Both clubs have received a financial boost, with CAF doubling the subvention for participating clubs to $100,000, a move that is expected to help ease the financial burden of continental travel and competition.

The preliminary rounds are scheduled to kick off in September, with the first leg taking place from September 19 to 21. The group stage for both tournaments will begin on November 21, and the knockout phase is set to start on March 13, 2026.

For Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers, the journey to African glory begins with the draw in Dar es Salaam, a moment that will define their first steps on the continental stage.